Separable connector



May 15, 1951 E. G. LINER SEPARABLE commc'roa 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 22, 1946 Patented May 15, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..." 331 SEFARABLE CONNECTOR Ernest G. Liner, Bremerton, Wash.

Application March 22, 1946, Serial No. 656,412

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a clasp. The clasp is suitable for bracelets, necklaces, .w-atchbands, handbags, suitcases, and'the like. The accompanying specification describes the clasp as applied to a watchband.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a clasp that will lock positively, that will open quickly, and that will at the same time present a smooth face.

To this end, the invention comprises a main body member that is attachable to one end of the watchband, a latch member that is attachable to the other end of the watchband, and a keeper movable in the main body member and designed to lock the latch member in the body member.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention as applied to a watchband.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the new and improved clasp.

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the clasp shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the main body member of the device.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan of the latch member.

Figure 5 is an enlarged side elevation of the latch.

Figure 6 is an enlarged plan view of the keeper.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 1--1 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8--8 of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 99 of Figure 1.

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken along the line Ill-l of Figure 3.

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken along the line ll-H of Figure 1.

The clasp comprises a body member 2, the lefthand side of which, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is reversely curved on itself to form a lower transverse housing 4. The body member 2 also comprises a bail 3 to which one end of the watchband may be attached. The housing 4, on the bottom of the body member 2, contains two adjoining open-ended bores and 6, which communicate laterally with each other. The lefthand bore 5 is threaded at its one end to engage a screw 8 adapted to be positioned in the bore 5. The tip of the screw 8 bears against a coil spring I0 accommodated in the other end of the bore 5. The opposite end of the spring I0 bears against the inner flat face of an abutment H which is slidable in the bore 5. The abutment II is an integral portion of a T-shaped keeper l2, which also includes a plunger [3 slidable in the come panion bore 6. The outer portions of the abuts ment II and the plunger [3 are integrally joined beyond the end of the body 2 and constitutes a curved end surface [5. i 1;

The keeper l2 terminates at its otherend in an angularly disposed stop H, which is slidable in a longitudinal slot [8 formed in the right+ hand wall of the housing 4. The stop I! limits the sliding movement of the keeper [2 in the housing 4 by engaging the lower face of the unslotted wall portion [9 of the housing Magainst the pressure of the spring ID. The keeper 12 contains a locking recess 20, and from the lower end of the recess extends a beveled surface 2 I. The keeper l2 forms part of a locking mechanism, as will be described more particularly'here inafter.

A tubular hinge flange 23, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3, extends integrally from the right-hand side of the body 2. The flange 23 is curved with respect to the housing 4 to form a depressed transverse channel 25 in the top face of the body 2. The flange 23 terminates in two transverse hook portions 26 opening downwardly. Between the two hook portions 26 is a central channel 28.

The body 2 contains an additional rectangular aperture 30 therein, which is separated from the channel 28 by a narrow bridge 3|.

A generally cruciform latch 34, as seen in Figs. 4 and 5, comprises two longitudinal legs and 35', two transverse legs 36 and 36', and a central junction 31. The longitudinal legs 35 and 35' of the latch 34 are appropriately formed to be accommodated in the depressed transverse channel 25 in the body 2, and the transverse legs 36 and 36' are formed to be accommodated within the channel 28 and the aperture 30 respectively. In the closed position of the clasp, the latch 34 will be so nested in the body 2 that the clasp will present a generally smooth surface, as indicated in Figure 2 of the drawings.

The right-hand transverse leg 36 of the latch 34 terminates in an eye 38, which in assembled position is complementary with the hook portions 26 on either side of the channel 28. When so assembled, as indicated in Figure l, a wrist watch sleeve 39 may be received within the loop 38 and the two hook portions 26. The sleeve 33 may have projecting pins 40 to engage appropriate swivel apertures in a watch or in a watchband, The loop 38 of the latch 34 is circumferential, to retain the sleeve 39 frictionally. The hook p01- tions 26, however, are not circumferential, and

3 when the latch 34 is swung sufficiently about the axis of the sleeve 39, the latch 34 and the sleeve 39 may be removed from the body 2.

From the rear side of the left-hand transverse leg 36 a lug 42 extends rearwardly, and in the free end thereof is formed a notch 43 adapted to receive the beveled portion 2| of the keeper I2. The lug '42 has a bevel 44 conforming to the bevel 2| and adapted to engage it as the keeper I2 is operated up and down against the resistance of the spring I0.

In the operation of the device, one side of the watch or watchstrap is attached to the bail 3 of the body 2. The other end of the Watch or the strap is attached to the pins 40 of the sleeve 39 that is held in the latch 34. The sleeve 39 is then positioned underneath the hook portions 26 of the flange 23, and the latch 34 is then swung against the face of the body 2.

The longitudinal legs 35 and 35 of the latch 34 will be received in the depressed channel 25, so that the lug 42 will enter the aperture 30 inthe body 2. The bevel 44 on the lug 42 will be caught under the bevel 2| of the keeper E2, to maintain the clasp in locked position.

To release the clasp, it is merely necessary to depress the curved end surface l5 on top of the keeper l2, until the beveled portion 2| thereof has been slid away from the bevel 44 of the latch 34. The latch 34 may then be raised by the fingernail, rotated about. the axis of the sleeve 39, and removed, along with the sleeve 39, from the hook portions 26 of the body 2.

What I claim is:

1. A clasp comprising a body reversely curved upon itself adjacent one end thereof to form a pair of transverse parallel bores, a keeper slidably positioned in one of said bores and mounted for axial movement with respect to the latter into and out of a locking position, the other end of said body being provided with a transversely extending depressed channel, a cruciform latch removably positioned in said channel and complementally received in the adjacent surface of said body, means for operatively inter-engaging said 4 4 body, and means positioned in the other of said bores for normally urging said keeper into its locking position.

2. A clasp comprisin a body reversely curved upon itself adjacent one end thereof to form a pair of transverse parallel bores, a keeper slidably positioned in one of said bores and mounted for axial movement with respect to the latter into and out of a locking position, the other end of said body being provided with a transversely extending depressed channel, a cruciform latch removably positioned in said channel and complementally received in the adjacent surface of said body, said body being provided with a centrally disposed aperture adjacent said channel and in communication with said first mentioned bore, one end of said latch extending into said aperture and terminating within the first mentioned bore adjacent said keeper, said one end of the latch being operatively engageable with the portion of the keeper adjacent thereto, Whereby when said keeper is caused to be moved into its locking position, said latch is caused to be looking relative to said body, and means positioned in the other of said bores for normally urging said keeper into its locking position.

ERNEST G. LINER.

' REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

